Colorado River Citizens Forum meeting discusses additions to water treaty

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - The Colorado River Citizens Forum hosted a public meeting Wednesday, where professor Karl Flessa talked about the U.S. Mexico Water Treaty of 1944.

More specifically, he highlighted the environmental benefits of the additions made to the treaty in 2010.

While also discussing who was responsible for helping with these environmental benefits.

“A good news story on several fronts, sort of how a combination of international collaboration… a little bit of water and a whole lot of work and care by people in the field is bringing back some of the riverside habitats in the Colorado River delta,” said Professor Flessa.

Members of the forum were able share some of their observation's about the presentation.

“Seeing how they actually stimulated the river and brought water in subsequent to that and maintained the habitat that they created as a result of that one time event was very interesting,” said G. Patrick O’Dowd, the Executive Director and General Manager of Salton Sea Authority.

Flessa also discussed  a project relating to the 2014 partnership with the goal of bringing small parts of the delta back to life.

He also discussed admiration for the people who have worked hard to restore these habitats.

However, Flessa feels there is still room for improvement 

“So long as more water can be delivered and more people can be employed I think there’s restoration areas can get even bigger and we can work towards getting a green ribbon all the way from the border all the way all the way to the Gulf of California," said Flessa.

The additions to the treaty expire in 2026.

Professor Flessa and the rest of the organization will definitely be looking into whether the addition will be renewed or changed.